Battery module

Abstract

A battery module includes a casing and a plurality of battery cells installed in the casing. The casing includes a sloping side panel. Widths of the casing along a first direction become narrower gradually towards a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The plurality of battery cells is arranged in a plurality of columns. The plurality of columns of battery cells becomes shorter gradually towards the second direction. Each column of battery cells abuts the sloping side panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery module comprising:
 a casing comprising a sloping side panel, widths of the casing along a first direction becoming narrower gradually towards a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and   a plurality of battery cells received in the casing and arranged in a plurality of columns; the plurality of columns of battery cells becomes shorter gradually towards the second direction; and at least one battery cell in each column abutting the sloping side panel.   
     
     
         2 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery cells is arranged in at least two rows, the battery cells in each row is aligned along the second direction, and a printed circuit board is located between and abuts the at least two rows of battery cells for electrically connecting the battery cells to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The battery module of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of battery cells is arranged in a first row and a second row, and the first row of battery cells and the second row of battery cells are connected in series. 
     
     
         4 . The battery module of  claim 3 , wherein the first row of battery cells comprises a first battery cell, a second battery cell, and a third battery cell which are connected in parallel, and the second row of battery cells comprises a fourth battery cell, a fifth battery cell, and a sixth battery cell which are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The battery module of  claim 4 , wherein the first battery cell and the fourth battery cell are arranged in a first column along the first direction, the second battery cell and the fifth battery cell are arranged in a second column along the first direction, and the third battery cell and the sixth battery cell are arranged in a third column along the first direction; the second row of battery cells is shorter than the first row of battery cells, and the third row of battery cells is shorter than the second row of battery cells. 
     
     
         6 . The battery module of  claim 5 , wherein a size and capacity of each of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, the third battery cell is the same as each other, a width of each of the fourth battery cell, the fifth battery cell, and the sixth battery cell is the same as the width of each of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the fifth battery cell, and a height of the fifth battery cell is less than that of the fourth battery cell, but greater than that of the sixth battery cell. 
     
     
         7 . The battery module of  claim 5 , wherein a size and capacity of each of the first battery cell and the fourth battery cell is the same as each other, a size and capacity of each of the second battery cell and the fifth battery cell is the same as each other, and a size and capacity of the third battery cell and the sixth battery cell is the same as each other. 
     
     
         8 . The battery module of  claim 5 , wherein a cross section of each of the plurality of battery cells has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         9 . The battery module of  claim 8 , wherein the casing further comprising a first side panel, a second side panel and a third side panel that is substantially parallel to and shorter than the second side panel, the first side panel and the sloping side panel are connected between the second side panel and the third side panel. 
     
     
         10 . The battery module of  claim 9 , wherein the first row of battery cells abuts the first side panel, the second row of battery cells abuts the sloping side panel, the first row of battery cells abuts the second side panel, and the third row of battery cells abuts the third side panel. 
     
     
         11 . A battery module comprising:
 a casing comprising a plurality of side panels, the plurality of side panels comprising at least one sloping side panel, widths of the casing along a first direction becoming narrower gradually towards a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and   a plurality of battery cells installed in the casing and arranged in a plurality of columns and rows; the plurality of columns of battery cells becomes shorter gradually towards the second direction; and at least one battery cell in each column abutting the sloping side panel.   
     
     
         12 . The battery module of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of battery cells is arranged in at least two rows, the battery cells in each row is aligned along the second direction, and a printed circuit board is located between and abuts the at least two rows of battery cells for electrically connecting the battery cells to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The battery module of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of battery cells is arranged in a first row and a second row, and the first row of battery cells and the second row of battery cells are connected in series. 
     
     
         14 . The battery module of  claim 13 , wherein the first row of battery cells comprises a first battery cell, a second battery cell, and a third battery cell which are connected in parallel, and the second row of battery cells comprises a fourth battery cell, a fifth battery cell, and a sixth battery cell which are connected in parallel. 
     
     
         15 . The battery module of  claim 14 , wherein the first battery cell and the fourth battery cell are arranged in a first column along the first direction, the second battery cell and the fifth battery cell are arranged in a second column along the first direction, and the third battery cell and the sixth battery cell are arranged in a third column along the first direction; the second row of battery cells is shorter than the first row of battery cells, and the third row of battery cells is shorter than the second row of battery cells. 
     
     
         16 . The battery module of  claim 15 , wherein a size and capacity of each of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, the third battery cell is the same as each other, a width of each of the fourth battery cell, the fifth battery cell, and the sixth battery cell is the same as the width of each of the first battery cell, the second battery cell, and the fifth battery cell, and a height of the fifth battery cell is less than that of the fourth battery cell, but greater than that of the sixth battery cell. 
     
     
         17 . The battery module of  claim 15 , wherein a size and capacity of each of the first battery cell and the fourth battery cell is the same as each other, a size and capacity of each of the second battery cell and the fifth battery cell is the same as each other, and a size and capacity of the third battery cell and the sixth battery cell is the same as each other. 
     
     
         18 . The battery module of  claim 15 , wherein the casing further comprising a first side panel, a second side panel and a third side panel that is substantially parallel to and shorter than the second side panel, the first side panel and the sloping side panel are connected between the second side panel and the third side panel, and each column of battery cells is located between and abutted the first side panel and the sloping side panel. 
     
     
         19 . The battery module of  claim 18 , wherein the first row of battery cells abuts the second side panel, and the third row of battery cells abuts the third side panel. 
     
     
         20 . A battery module comprising:
 a casing comprising a plurality of side panels, the side panels defining a non-rectangular corner at a joint of the side panels; and   a plurality of battery cells received in the casing, wherein the more the battery cells are close to the non-rectangular corner, the shorter the battery cells are.